Clip forming apparatus



April 5, 1938. J MARTlN 2,113,030

CLIP FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES H. MART! N ATTORNEYS April 5, 1938.

J. H. MARTIN 13,030

CLIP FORMING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.3.

FIG].

INVENTOR JAMES H. MARTIN A TTORNE YS Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIP FORMING APPARATUS James H. Martin, Detroit, Mich. Application January 24, 1936, Serial No. 60,743

16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to clip forming apparatus and refers more particularly to apparatus of this character having provision for applying clips to articles it is desired to attach together.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to appreciably simplify and render more efficient, office procedure by. materially expediting the operation of attaching articles or documents together by clips. A feature of this invention which contributes materially to realizing the foregoing advantage resides in the provision of apparatus equipped with means for forming individual clips of predetermined size from a continuous strip of stock and for automatically applying the clips as they are formed to the articles to be attached together.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of apparatus of the type previously set so forth having means, responsive to predeterminedly positioning the articles to be clipped, to treat portions of the opposed surfaces of' the articles to permit the clip to adhere to the afore said surfaces and to subsequently fold a portion of the free end of the clip stock over the treated surfaces of the articles in such a manneras to press the stock against the latter surfaces.

Still another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of means efi'ec- 30 tive upon initially tensioning the free end portion aforesaid of the clip stock by the folding means to detach this portion from the stock, so that upon completion of the folding operation, the articles may be removed from the apparatus with a clip applied thereto. In accordance with the present invention, the detaching operation, as well as the two functions set forth in the preceding paragraph, are automatically effected in timed relation at a relatively fast rate with the 40 minimum attention on the part of the operator.

A further feature of this invention consists in the novel means provided for periodically advancing the continuous clip stock to introduce portions of predetermined length to the folding means in timed relation to the operation of the latter. This advancing means, like the several means hereinb-efore referred to, is simple in construction and is automatic in operation.

Inaddition to the foregoing, this invention so contemplates a novel form of strip stock predeterminedly fashioned to cooperate with the advancing means, folding means and detaching means to render the operation of said means effective. The manner in which the stock is 5 form'ed to cooperate with the above named means and the foregoing features, as well as other objects of the invention, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection. with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 5;

Figure l is a side elevational view partly in section of the apparatus constructed in accordance .with this invention for both forming and applying clips to the articles to be attached together; 10

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1; c

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig- 15 ure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 4 showing the parts in a normal position;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the stock employed to form the clips;

Figure 9 is a diagram of the electrical circuit employed to control the operation of the several instrumentalities of the apparatus; and

Figure 10 is a diagram of a modified form'of electrical circuit.

In general, the articles A are advanced along a table B toward the clip applying means C and, as the forward edges of the articles assume a predetermined position with respect to the means 40 C, the electromagnet D is energized by either or both of the switches E arranged in the path of travel of the articles A to be actuated thereby. As will be apparent from Figure 9, the switches E are arranged in parallel in an electric circuit T to the electromagnet D so that the latter is operated irrespective of whether the articles engage either or both of the switches. Energization of the electromagnet D by closing either or both of the switches E advances the cooperating 0pposed moistening rolls F in the direction of the arrow G. As shown in Figure 1, the moistening rolls F are disposedupon opposite sides of the articles A and these rolls are revolved as they are advanced so as to moisten portions of the top and bottom surfaces of the articles.

In a manner to be more fully hereinafter set forth, a continuous strip of clip stock H is advanced to locate the free end portion thereof transversely of the plane of the articles in rear of the moistening rolls to be engaged by the moistened edge portions of the articles upon continued movement of the rolls F in the direction of the arrow G. The means for advancing the stock is accurately controlled to periodically feed the stock to the aforesaid position with the crimp I extending transversely of the stock adjacent the free end thereof substantially in the plane of the articles. The arrangement is such that the edges of the moistened portions of the articles engage the crimp portion of the stock and subsequent bending of the stock is thereby facilitated.

Continued advancement of the moistening rolls relative to the articles to be clipped introduces the crimped portion I of the stock between a pair of cooperating bending rolls J mounted for movement as a unit with the moistening rolls. It will be understood that the crimp in the stock influences bending of the same on the line I by the rolls J and during the final portion of advancement of these rolls, the same function to press the portions of the stock on opposite sides of the crimp against the moistened sur faces of the articles.

Provision is made herein for detaching the folded portion of the continuous stock to form a clip prior to completion of the ironing operation of the rolls J, and this is accomplished by the means K in dependence upon initially tensioning the free end portion of the stock by the bending rolls J. In the present instance, the means K is operated in timed relation to advancement of the aforesaid rolls by means of a spring pressed plunger L suitably supported on the casing. The step of detaching the clips of predetermined length from the continuous stock by the means K is influenced by perforating the continuous stock H at points spaced predetermined distances from each other as indicated by the reference character M in Figure 8.

It will also be understood as this description proceeds that after the clip has been properly attached to the articles, the circuit T is automatically opened by means of a thermo-responsive switch R arranged in series in the circuit T. The thermo-responsive switch is of conventional construction having cooperating thermostatic elements adapted to assume a position wherein the contacts at the free ends of the elements engage each other when the circuit is opened through either of the switches E, and responsive to the flow of electrical current therethrough, in the closed position of either of the switches E, to open the circuit T. The resistance of the thermostatic elements is so determined as to delay the relative movement of the elements required to separate the contacts until the carriage has completed one cycle of operation and the operator has had an opportunity to remove the clipped articles from the device. Of course, removal of the clipped articles permits the switches E to open the circuit T to the electromagnet and since the thermostatic switch is arranged in series in the circuit T, it necessarily follows that the elements will be cooled by the ambient air and. returned to their initial position wherein the contacts at the free ends thereof engage each other.

Referring now more in detail to the particular construction of the apparatus selected herein for the purpose of illustration, it will be noted that the same comprises a casing l5 having a table portion l6 for supporting the articles to be clipped together at the proper elevation with respect to the clip forming rolls and having a carriage I! for the latter rolls slidably supported from the casing by means of a U-shaped bracket l8. The base portion of the U-shaped bracket I8 is secured to the bottom of the casing l5 while the upstanding leg portions l9 and 20 thereof form a guide for the sliding carriage ll.

The cooperating moistening rolls F are journalled on the carriage I! at the forward end of the latter with one of the rolls positioned directly above the other and the cooperating or folding rolls J are similarly journalled upon the sliding carriage I! in rear of the moistening rolls F. Upon reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the free end of the continuous strip of clip stock H is supported between the two pairs of rolls by means of a channel 2| extending in the direction of sliding movement of the carriage I! and supported by the latter in a position di' rectly above the rolls aforesaid. The stock H enters the rear end of the channel 2| from a spool 22 suitably journalled in the side walls of the casing l5 and the stock extending from the spool to the rear end of the channel 2| is maintained under a slight tension, irrespective of movement of the carriage IT, by a tension roll 23 supported .by a leaf spring 24 from the casing in the manner clearly shown in Figure 1. The delivery end of the channel 2| is curved downwardly in the manner designated by the reference character 25 in Figure 1, and terminates opposite the space existing between the two pairs of rolls F and J. Upon reference to Figure 7, it will be noted that the channel of the portion. 25 is inverted with respect to the remaining or straight portion of the channel 2|. In other words, the base of the straight portion of the channel 2| is located beneath the strip stock to form a support therefor, while the base of the arcuate portion 25 of the channel is located above the stock and the latter is maintained in the channel by suitable retaining flanges 26 extending inwardly from the side walls of the channel portion 25.

In the-present instance, the stock H is moved as a unit with the carriage I! in the direction of the arrow G and this is accomplished by providing upwardly extending laterally spaced lugs 21 on the base of the straight portion of the channel 2i for engagement with the preformed openings 28 in the stock H. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the lugs are struck out from the base of the channel and are fashioned in such a manner as to positively engage the stock when the carriage I1 is moved in the direction of the arrow G, but to slide along the under surface of the stock when the carriage is moved in the opposite direction. In other words, when the carriage I1 is moved in the direction of the arrow G from the position thereof shown in Figure 1, the lugs 21 on the channel 2| will engage in the openings 28 and move the stock H as a unit with the carriage to maintain the previously advanced free end portion of the stock in fixed relation to the two pairs of rolls F and J.

In the present instance, the stock is actually advanced relative to the carriage and associated parts each time the carriage is returned to its normal position by the spring Y so that when the carriage is moved in the direction of the arrow G ar aoso following each return movement, the stock is in its proper position relative to the rolls. In the specific embodiment of the invention, the stock is advanced during return movement of the carriage by a finger 33 having the upper end .pivotally supported on the casing and having a tip at the lower end adapted to engage in one of the openings 34. Hence, the finger actually holds the stock stationary during the return movement of the carriage and this results in actually advancing the stock. The extent of advancement is so determined that the crimp I adjacent the free end of the stock assumes a position substantially in the horizontal plane of the articles A to be clipped. During initial movement of the carriage in the aforesaid direction to advance the stock, the rolls F serve to moisten portions of the opposed surfaces of the articles to be clipped and as the carriage continues to advance relative to the articles, the adjacent edges of the latter engage the stock approximately on the line of the crimp to feed this portion of the stock between the pressing rolls J. As the stock is initially fed between the pressing rolls J the spring pressed plunger L on the casing I5 operates the means K to detach the free end of the stock along the line defined by the perforation adjacent the free end thereof.

In detail, the means K comprises an arm 29 pivoted intermediate the ends thereof upon the carriage I! for movement therewith as a unit, and is provided with a pad 30 on the lower end thereof adapted to be moved by the plunger L into engagement with the stock in the inverted portion 25 of the channel to yieldably press the stock against the base of the channel portion 25, so that as the rolls J fold the stock over the articles to be clipped, the tension is sufiicient to cause the end portion of the stock to tear on the perforated line M which, of course, is positioned below the pad 30. Attention may be called to the fact at this point that detachment of the end portion of the stock is facilitated not only by the perforations, but also due to the fact that the opposite side edge portions of the stock at the perforations are severed for a substantial distance as indicated in Figure 8 by the reference character 3 I. Thus, it will be apparent that upon initial operation of the pressing rolls J to fold the end portion of the stock over the articles to be clipped, the end portion or clip is detached from the stock by the means K, whereupon continued movement of the carriage I! in the direction of the arrow G folds the detached portions of the stock over opposite sides of the articles in intimate contact with the moistened surfaces thereof.

Upon completion of the clip forming and applying operation previously referred to, the carriage I1 is returned to the position thereof shown in Figure 1. Initial return movement of the carriage releases the yieldable pressure exerted by the plunger L on the upper end of the arm 29 and permits the spring 32 to move the pad 30 away from the stock. It will, of course, be understood that the stock will tend to return with the channel 2| mounted on the carriage l1 and the extent of return movement of the stock is definitely restricted by means of the finger 33 pivotally supported on the casing and having the free end thereof engageable in one of the openings 34 formed in the stock between the openings 28. Thus, it will be noted that the finger 33 controls the length of the, portion of the stockadvanced; eachltime. the-carriage; H1 is moved in the direction of the arrow G. I I

It has: been previouslystated that the carriage is: reciprocated automatically in dependence upon the introduction of the articles to be attached into the apparatus; The foregoing is accom plished in the present instance by locating two switches El on'the' table 3 in a position to be actuated. by the edges of the articles as they approach their'finalposition on the table. As previously stated, these switches are so located as to insure engagement of lone'by the articles and" are arranged; in the circuit to the electromagnet in such a manner that closing of either switch energizes. the-coil 35 of the electromagnet D to move the plunger 35 thereof in the direction of the arrow G and, since-this plunger is connected to'the carriage l1, it necessarily follows that the latter is moved as a unit with the plunger. In the present instance, the circuit T is opened without disturbing the articles on the table or, in other words, is opened independent of the switches E by the thermostatic switch R in the circuit T. As previously stated, the switch It may be of the conventional thermostatic type and is so arranged in the present instance as to open and close automatically; in timed relation to the carriage. p 7

It has also been previously pointed out that the two sets of rolls F; andlJ are revolvedabout their axes as they are reciprocated by the carriage ll. This is accomplished in the manner shown particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 3 by arranging a pair of rack bars at one side of the rolls having teeth adapted to mesh with suitable pinions fixed to the roll shafts. The rack bars are fixedly supported on the bracket 18 adjacent one side of the rolls and are designated in Figures 1 and 3 by the reference characters 40 and Al The teeth of the racklbar- 40 are adapted to meshwi'ththe unions-42 fixed to the roll shafts of'the upper rolls of each pair While the teeth of the rackbar 4 I are adapted to mesh with the pinions 43 secured to the lowerroll shafts. With the above arrangemenait will be understood that longitudinal displacement of the roll shafts by the carriage l1 effects a rotation of the rolls about their respective: axes. It may be pointed out at this time that the carriage is guided for rectilinear movement on the bracket l8 by means of lugs 45 extending laterally from opposite sides of the carriage and engaging in channels 46 formed on the inner sides of the legs-of the U- shaped bracket. m

' The pair of cooperating moistening rolls F a are preferably hollow to receive the wicks 41 and portions of the peripheral surfaces of the rolls are slotted to receive the pads 48. It will of course, be understood that the pads Mlare predeterminedly located on the peripheral surfaces of the rolls F to engage the opposite sides of the articles to be attached upon initial movement' of the carriage I] in the direction of the arrow G. Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the wicks extend'from the rolls F to a water storage tank'49- suitably supported in the casing i5 of "the apparatus with the result that moisture'is delivered to the pads 48 from the water tank by capillary attraction.

Thus; from the foregoing, it will be noted that I have provided a relatively simple, inexpensive apparatus for forming clips of predetermined size from a continuous strip of stock and for applying the clips as they are formed to the articles to be attached. It will also be noted that'my improved apparatus is thoroughly automatic in operation and requires the minimum attention on the part of the operator. In addition, it will be noted that I have provided preformed stock of novel construction rendering it possible to expediently form clips from the same and to readily apply the clips.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure features an alternative method of opening the switch R in the circuit T. In this construction, the switch is of the simple push button type and is conveniently located on the casing of the apparatus for manual manipulation, With this construction, the carriage remains in its forwardmost position until the operator opens the circuit T by manipulating the switch It. With the above exception, the modified construction functions in the same manner as the first described form of the invention.

Although in describing the present invention particular stress has been placed upon one specific construction of apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing advantageous results, nevertheless, it will be noted that the several parts of the apparatus may be modified without altering the principles of operation previously described, and reservation is made to make such changes in the details of construction as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, means responsive to movement of the carriage in one direction to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles, and means actuated by the carriage to apply .a clip to the treated portions of the articles.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, means responsive to movement of the carriage in one direction to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles, and means operable to subsequently fold a clip over the treated portions of the articles.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, means responsive to movement of the carriage in one direction to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles, means controlled by the carriage to apply a clip to the treated portions of the articles, means for feeding a continuous strip of clip stock between the aforesaid means, and means for detaching a predetermined length of stock from the free end thereof in timed relation to the folding means.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, means responsive to movement of the carriage in one direction to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles, means controlled by the carriage to apply a clip to the treated portions of the articles, means for feeding a continuous strip of clip stock between the aforesaid means to a position wherein a portion of the strip adjacent the free end thereof is engaged by the adjacent edges of the articles subsequent to the treating operation and prior to the folding operation, and means responsive to the operation of the folding means to detach a predetermined length of stock from the free end of the strip stock.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the articles, a pair of cooperating rolls journalled on the carriage in opposed relationship on opposite sides of the plane of the articles on said support, means for rotating the rolls, means projecting from the peripheral surfaces of the rolls responsive to movement of the carriage toward the articles to moisten portions of the opposite sides of the articles, and means effective upon continued movement of the carriage in the last named direction to fold a clip over the treated portions of the articles.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a support for the articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the articles, a pair of cooperating rolls journalled on the carriage in opposed relationship on opposite sides of the plane of the articles on said support, means on the peripheral portions of the rolls effective upon movement of the carriage in a direction toward the articles to moisten portions of the opposite sides of the articles, a second pair of cooperating rolls journalled on the carriage in a position to receive the articles therebetween subsequent to the moistening operation, and means for supporting a portion of clip stock between the two pairs of rolls aforesaid in a position to be engaged by the edges of the moistened portions of the articles prior to the latter portions being received between the second set of rolls.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement toward and away from the articles, means effective upon movement of the carriage in a direction away from the articles to advance a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles for engagement thereby, means responsive to movement of the carriage in a direction toward the articles to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles and to engage the edges of the moistened portions with the stock, and means effective upon further movement of the carriage in the direction toward the articles to fold the portion aforesaid of the clip stock over the treated surfaces of the articles.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement toward and away from the articles, means effective upon movement of the carriage away from the articles to advance a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles for engagement thereby, means responsive to movement of the carriage in a direction toward the articles to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles and to engage the edges of the moistened portions with the stock, means effective upon further movement of the carriage in a direction toward the articles to fold the portion aforesaid of the clip stock over the treated surfaces of the articles, and means operating in timed relation to the folding means for detaching the portion of the clip stock to be folded from the strip of stock.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement toward and away from the articles, means effective upon movement of the carriage away from the articles to advance a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles to be engaged thereby, means responsive to movement of the carriage in a direction toward the articles to treat portions of opposite sides of the articles and to subsequently engage the edge of the moistened portions with the stock, means effective upon further movement of the carriage in the direction toward the articles to fold the portion aforesaid of the clip stock over the treated surfaces of the articles, means operating in timed relation to the folding means for detaching the portion of the clip stock to be folded from the strip of stock, and means also operating in timed relation to the folding means to effect return movement of the carriage.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, means for periodically feeding a strip of clip stock across the plane of the articles in advance of the latter with a predetermined length of the stock on opposite sides of the plane, folding means predeterminedly supported with respect to the stock, means for relatively moving the folding means and articles toward each other to fold the portion aforesaid of the clip stock over portions of the articles, and means operating in timed relation to the folding means to detach the above mentioned portion of the clip stock from the strip of stock.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a support for the articles to be attached to one another, means for feeding a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles to locate predetermined lengths of the stock on opposite sides of said plane and in spaced relation to the adjacent edges of the articles to be clipped, means supported between the aforesaid edges of the articles and stock for treating opposite sides of the articles, means effecting relative movement of the articles and both of the aforesaid means to successively treat the articles and engage the said adjacent edges thereof with the stock, and means operating during said relative movement to fold the portion aforesaid of the stock over the articles.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a frame predeterminedly positioned with respect to the support, a pair of cooperating rolls journalled on the frame in opposed relationship on opposite sides of the plane of the articles and having means for treating portions of opposite sides of the articles, a pair of cooperating pressing rolls journalled on the frame beyond the rolls aforesaid, means for supporting a strip of clip stock in a position between the two pairs of rolls with predetermined portions on opposite sides of the plane aforesaid, and means effecting relative movement of the articles and frame toward each other to successively treat the articles and to engage the edges of the treated portions thereof with the clip stock to guide the same between the pressing rolls.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, folding means mounted on the carriage opposite one edge of the articles, means for feeding by a step by step movement a continuous strip of clip stock between the folding means and edge aforesaid of the articles, and means operable during the interval of rest of said feeding means to move the carriage in a direction to engage the folding means with the free end portion of the stripof stock and to apply this portion to said edge of the articles. I

14. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the articles, folding means mounted on the carriage opposite one edge of the articles, means for feeding by a step by step movement a continuous length of clip stock between the folding means and edge of said articles, means for moving the carriage toward the articles during the interval of rest of the clip feeding means to fold the free end portion of the clip over said edge of the articles, and means for detaching the free end portion of the clip stock from the remainder thereof in timed relation to the folding means.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement toward and away from the articles, means effective upon movement of the carriage away from the articles to advance a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles for engagement by one edge of the latter, means effective upon movement of the carriage in a direction toward said edge of the articles to fold the free end portion of the strip stock over said edge of the articles, and means operating in timed relation to the folding means for detaching said free end portion of the clip stock from the remainder thereof.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a support for articles to be attached to one another, a carriage mounted for movement toward and away from the articles, folding means supported on the carriage opposite one edge of the articles, means effective upon movement of the carriage away from the articles to advance a portion of strip stock across the plane of the articles between the folding means and edge aforesaid of the articles for engagement by said edge, means for moving the carriage in a direction toward said edge of the articles to engage the folding means with the free end portion of the strip of stock and to fold said end portion over the adjacent edge of the articles, and means operating in timed relation to the folding means for detaching the free end portion of the stock from the remainder thereof.

JAMES H. MARTIN. 

